St. Ignatius of Loyola - The Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

St. Ignatius of Loyola (Basque: Ignazio Loiolakoa, Spanish: Ignacio de Loyola) (ca. October 27, 1491 – July 31, 1556) was a Spanish knight from a local Basquenoble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and, on 19 April 1541, became its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation. Loyola's devotion to the Catholic Church was characterized by absolute obedience to the Pope.


After being seriously wounded in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521, he underwent a spiritual conversion while in recovery. De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxonyinspired Loyola to abandon his previous military life and devote himself to labour for God, following the example of spiritual leaders such as Francis of Assisi. He experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus while at the shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat in March 1522. Thereafter he went to Manresa, where he began praying for seven hours a day, often in a nearby cave, while formulating the fundamentals of the Spiritual Exercises. In September 1523, Loyola reached theHoly Land to settle there, but was sent back to Europe by the Franciscans.


Between 1524 and 1537, Ignatius studied theology and Latin in the University of Alcalá and then in Paris. In 1534, he arrived in the latter city during a period of anti-Protestant turmoil which forced John Calvin to flee France. Ignatius and a few followers bound themselves by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. In 1539, they formed the Society of Jesus, approved in 1540 by Pope Paul III, as well as his Spiritual Exercises approved in 1548. Loyola also composed the Constitutionsof the Society. He died in July 1556, was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1609, canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, and declared patron of all spiritual retreats byPope Pius XI in 1922. Ignatius is a foremost patron saint of soldiers, the Society of Jesus, the Basque Country, and the provinces of Gipuzkoa and Biscay. St. Ignatius' feast day is celebrated on July 31.

Father General of the Jesuits

Statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Gesù Church, Rome.

Ignatius as Superior General.

Ignatius Loyola

St. Ignatius was chosen as the first Superior General of his religious order, invested with the title of Father General by the Jesuits. He sent his companions as missionaries around Europe to create schools, colleges, and seminaries. Juan de Vega, the ambassador of Charles V at Rome had met Ignatius there. Esteeming him and the Jesuits, when Vega was appointed Viceroy of Sicily he brought Jesuits with him. A Jesuit college was opened at Messina; success was marked, and its rules and methods were afterwards copied in other colleges.[21] In 1548 Spiritual Exercises was finally printed, and he was briefly brought before the Roman Inquisition, but was released.


Ignatius wrote the Jesuit Constitutions, adopted in 1554, which created a monarchical organization and stressed absolute self-abnegation and obedience to pope and superiors (perinde ac [si] cadaver [essent],[22] "[well-disciplined] like a corpse" as Ignatius put it).[23] His main principle became the Jesuit motto: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam ("for the greater glory of God"). The Jesuits were a major factor in the Counter-Reformation. During 1553–1555, Ignatius dictated his life's story to his secretary, Father Gonçalves da Câmara. This autobiography is a valuable key for the understanding of his Spiritual Exercises. It was kept in the archives for about 150 years, until the Bollandists published the text inActa Sanctorum. A critical edition exists in Vol. I (1943) of the Fontes Narrativi of the series Monumenta Historica Societatis Iesu. He died in Rome on July 31, 1556, as a result of the Roman Fever, a severe case of malaria that recurred in Rome, Italy, at different points in history.

- Exceprts from Wikipedia

Ode To School

Mass of brick, cement and stone,

Amidst whose walls we have grown.

Buildings three, church with steeples high,

To my dear school I now bid good-bye.

Early in the year 1864, the school was born,

With name St. Mary's, Mazgaon it did adorn.

Eleven years we spent, making a lot of trouble,

In class, canteen and on grounds double.

Marians will always remain the same every year,

For in the midst of a battle, "Fight" we'll cheer!

The passion in the Inter-house games we take,

Along with the lamest of jokes we love to make.

When others ate half of our pizzas we'd whine,

But we'd bully "kiddies" to "Ghusao" in the line!

In the short breaks Vada Paos we did eat,

And we'd fight in the bus for the window seat.

In the school bus starting a water fight,

In the middle of class having a quick bite.

In the back of our books Hangman we play,

While those periods just seem to pass away.

Times when we'd anticipate the bell to ring,

And times when the school anthem we'd sing.

"Mary Mary Mary ISC", we'd passionately say,

Are memories which in my mind will always stay.

In this world we'll turn to be men so good,

That in our happiness there surely would…

Be a time we'll proudly say in our joys,

"Hurrah We Are ST. MARY'S BOYS!!!"

- By Anant Goyal (2009 Batch)

  He wrote this on his last day at school and subsequently Anant has published his

  own book of poems.

How St. Mary's Road Got It's Name in 1924

This road which connects Mazagon Road with Nesbit Road was constructed by the Improvement Trust in 1924. At that time one of our old boys Dr. Anthony F. Henriques L.R.C.P. & S. (Edin.), L.F.P. & S. (Glas.) J.P. Honorary Presidency Magistrate, Bombay happened to be one of the nominated members of the Bombay Municipal Corporation.

Grateful to his Alma Mater, as all our old students are, Dr. Henriques thought of getting this road named “St. Mary’s Road” after St. Mary’s High School (as it was then called), to which this road leads. He sought an interview with Sir Hugh Clayton, the then Municipal Commissioner and suggested to him that this road should be named “St. Mary’s Road.” Knowing as he did that St. Mary’s High School was a great asset to Bombay where hundreds of boys, without any distinction in caste or creed, received their education, Sir Hugh at once fell in with the idea of Dr. Henriques and requested him to send the necessary Notice of Motion to the Corporation. This was done and on 4^th September 1924 the following resolution was unanimously passed by the Corporation.

In accordance with Notice of Motion No. 5785 was proposed by Dr. A. F. Henriques :-

“That the Commissioner be informed that the corporation are of the opinion that the newly constructed road at Mazagon connecting Mazagon Road with Nesbit Road be named “St. Mary’s Road” after it is handed over to the Municipality by the Improvement Trust.”

The Motion was seconded by Mrs. Harry Hodgkinson and carried.

This is how one of our old boys has perpetuated the name of his Alma Mater. We are grateful to Dr. Henriques for his kind thought.

- Excerpt from St. Mary's School Magazine of 1939

IMMACULATA 2013 - SCHEDULE DAY 1

IMMACULATA 2013

SCHEDULE DAY 1

IMMACULATA 2013 - SCHEDULE DAY 2

IMMACULATA 2013

SCHEDULE DAY 2

150th YEAR CELEBRATIONS - FACEBOOK COMPETITION FOR IMMACULATA 2013

St. Mary's School ICSE's 150th Year Celebrations brings you its first competition. The Facebook Competition for IMMACULATA 2013. 
An exciting Interschool Cultural event organized and conceptualized completely by the students of St. Mary's is round the corner. 150th Year Celebrations' FACEBOOK PAGE gives you a chance to win FREE entry passes for this two day interschool cultural extravaganza. Just answer these ten simple questions and send in your answers with your name and batch or son's name and standard to stmarys150years.competition@gmail.com. Its as simple as that. So get going as only ten winners with the most correct answers stand to win. Let's see how much you know about your school :) (You can click on the pictures to view larger images)

QUESTIONS:

Q1.Where is this Notice exactly located at our School? 

[A] At the main entrance near the bridge & St. Anne's Church
[B] At the Main entrance near the Arch
[C] On a tree between the Basketball court & Football grounds 
[D] On the fence between the children's play area and railway yard

Q2. Where on our school's campus are these School Badges located?

[A] Outer wall of the top floor of the Senior school building & above the notice board in the Senior assembly hall

[B] Above Captains board on 1st floor & above the fish tank

[C] Above the Arch at the main entrance & above the notice board in the Senior assembly hall

[D] Outer wall of the Top floor of the Senior School building & above entrance to the auditorium

Q3. Where have these Frames been put up?

[A] Second floor Senior school building
[B] The wall opposite the auditorium entrance
[C] First floor junior school wall opposite the staircase
[D] The wall behind the canteen in the junior assembly hall

Q4. This is the commemorative plaque celebrating our School's Diamond Jubilee in 1939. Where has it been installed?

[A] The wall outside the Principal's office
[B] At the base of the main staircase
[C] In the Gym room
[D] The wall in the senior assembly hall

Q5. This is an old yet gorgeous wooden door and grill with our School's 'M' monogram. Where is it located? 

[A] The grill between the canteen and the water fountains

[B] Second floor of the senior school

[C] At the steps of the auditorium

[D] The grill near the junior school's play area

Q6. What National Award has Father Evarist Newnes won, in which year and from whom did he receive it?

[A] Padma Shri Award in 2010 from the President of India Smt. Pratibha Patil

[B] Padma Bhushan Award in 2008 from the President of India Smt. Pratibha Patil

[C] National Education award in 2007 from ASSOCHAM President Mr. Venugopal Dhoot

[D] National Award for Teachers in 2004 from the President Abdul Kalam

Q7. How many trees are there in the playing grounds? 

(NOTE: Only the ones on the Cricket Ground, Basketball Court & Football Ground. Trees behind the shed have to be counted but not the ones in the railway yard and children's play area)

[A] 20          [B] 14          [C] 18          [D] 9

Q8. What is the seating capacity of our School's Auditorium?

[A] 900     [B] 1000     [C] 1200     [D] 800

Q9. Our Grey Stone building the first from the Railway yard was the first building built to house the school on the current campus. Which year was it built?

[A] 1903     [B] 1864     [C] 1865     [D] 1895

Q10. How many steps of the main staircase lead from Ground Floor to the first floor?

[A] 30          [B] 32         [C] 26          [D] 24 

Please read the Rules and Regulations carefully before submitting your answers. The Judges decision will be final and binding.

IMMACULATA FACEBOOK COMPETITION FOR ALUMNI & MARIAN PARENTS - RULES AND REGULATIONS

ST. MARY’S SCHOOL ICSE - 150th YEAR CELEBRATIONS

RULES & REGULATIONS FOR FACEBOOK COMPETITION FOR IMMACULATA 2013:

1. Competition is open only for Alumni, Ex-students and Parents of St. Mary’s students.

2. The Competition shall stay open from 12:00 pm June 23, 2013 to 11:59pm June 27, 2013.

3. Entries can be submitted in the following method ONLY:

a. Send us an email to stmarys150years.competition@gmail.com. Please write down your Name, Year of Graduation (if an Alumni), Name and standard & name of your son (if you are a Marian Parent) after your answers. Answers sent in without Names will be not be considered.

b. Please DO NOT POST Answers on the Facebook Page.

If anyone is found to posting answers on the main timeline will get disqualified and their post with answers shall be deleted.

3. TEN People with the highest right answers shall be declared winners. In case of a tie, the judges panel shall decide the winners by lottery.

4. The winners shall be announced on June 28, 2013.

5. The Judges decision will be final.

6. Only ONE entry per person. People who make multiple entries will get disqualified automatically.

7. The winners can collect their passes in the following manner:

a. They have to bring along a valid photo id and collect their passes at the registration counter from the Security Team at IMMACULATA 2013 on any ONE of the days of IMMACULATA 2013. (June 29 or 30, 2013)

8. If any of the winners is found causing any sort of mischief, problems etc., at the Immaculata 2013 event, they shall be immediately escorted out of the venue and their pass shall be confiscated.

9. Liking our 150th Year Celebrations Facebook page is not compulsory to enter the competition but we would highly appreciate if all entrants Liked our page.